Wilson, Clark rewriting record book

A’ja Wilson became the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a season when she finished with 29 in the Aces’ 84-71 win over the Sun on Sunday in Las Vegas. Wilson hit a pull-up from the elbow with 2 minutes left in the game to reach the mark. Earlier this week, the Aces’ star broke the single-season scoring record that Jewell Loyd set last year. The Aces called timeout about 30 seconds later and her teammates mobbed Wilson. She then went out on the court and acknowledged a loud ovation from the crowd, clapping her hands. The Aces (25-13) hold a one-game lead over the Storm for the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and home-court advantage in that series. Also Sunday, Caitlin Clark scored a career-high 35 points to help the Fever beat the Wings 110-109 in Indianapolis. Clark, whose 329 assists are a single-season WNBA record, has a rookie-record 761 points this season, breaking the mark set by Seimone Augustus (744) in 2006. The Fever (20-19), who were coming off back-to-back losses to the Aces, clinched the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. The Fever will play the third-seeded Sun, who won three of the four regular-season matchups between the teams, in the first round.

Crosby gets 2-year, $17.4M extension

Sidney Crosby is looking to finish what he started in Pittsburgh. The Penguins star signed a two-year contract extension on Monday that runs through the 2026-27 season. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $8.7 million, would keep Crosby with the team until nearly his 40th birthday. The deal comes on the eve of Crosby’s 20th training camp with the Penguins, who took him with the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. The 37-year-old Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and two-time league MVP, didn’t ask for a raise even though he remains one of the most productive players in the NHL. Crosby led the Penguins in goals (42), assists (52) and points (94) last season, well clear of the rest of an underachieving club that missed the playoffs for a second straight year. He has played in more games (1,272) than any player in team history and trails only Mario Lemieux in every other major category, including goals (592, 2nd), assists (1,004, 2nd), and points (1,596, 2nd). Crosby will begin the 2024-25 season 10th all-time in league history in points.

Williams, Bears offense struggling

Caleb Williams and the Bears offense was bailed out by defense and special-teams scoring to get a win over the Titans in their season opener last week. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner wasn’t as fortunate Sunday night against the Texans in Houston. Williams was 23 of 37 for 174 yards with two interceptions in a 19-13 loss. He was sacked seven times. The defeat came after the Bears failed to score a touchdown on offense last week but overcame a 17-point deficit for a 24-17 win with a blocked punt that was returned for a TD and an interception return for another score. On Sunday night, Williams struggled while under heavy pressure for most of the night. Williams and Texans QB C.J. Stroud, the second overall pick in last year’s draft, talked for a bit after the game. Last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year shared some of what he told Williams. “Everything that got you here is going to take care of you in the long run,” Stroud said he told Williams. “Don’t put your head down, don’t let a hard time humble you. It’s not going to be easy, but you got picked at No. 1 for a reason, because they trust in you and believe in you. I definitely think he’ll be better as he goes on.” —Associated Press